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10TTE POST
Community Weekly*
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VOL. 6 NO. 14
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,TH CAROLINA-Thursday, December 7, 1978
Price 30 cents
Head Of
Household
GaïrtQûîtr^
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Pri
mary wage-earners who quit
their jobs without good cause
would find their families ineli
gible for food stampe for two
months under a proposal
made today by Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture Carol
Tucker Foreman.
"The proposed regulation
will ensure that an able-bodied
head of household cannot quit
a job in order to start receiv
ing food stamps," Foreman
said. The proposal imple
'ments a provision of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977.
Foreman said that the new
rule is consistent with the
desire of the Administration
and of Congress to assure that
.those not in need of food
stamps not receive them,
while doing more to get
stamps to those who truly are
in need, such as the elderly
and the working poor.
The proposed rule is sche
dule to appear in today's
Federal Register. Comments
aksidd be sent to Nancy Syn
der, Food and Nutrition Ser
vice, U.S. Department of Agri
culture, Washington, D.C.,
20250. Deadline for receiving
comments is Dec. 21.
Brookehire
r Boulevard To
Qoee For Reper
Beginning at 9'a.m. Tues
day, December 12, the in
bound (southeast) lanes of
Brooks hire Boulevard-NC 16
will be closed for one day. The
outbound ( northwest) lanes
will be closed for a day beginn
ing at 9 a.m. Wednesday,
December 13. Local traffic
will be maintained each time.
The boulevard is being'closed
for railroad grade crossing
maintenance.
During the closing, inbound
traffic will be detoured via
Lawton Road to Rezzells
Ferry Road to Hoskins Road
and return to Brookshire Boul
evard. Outbound traffic will
be letoured via Hoskins Road
to Chesapeake Drive to Law
ton Road and back to Brook
shire Boulevard.
THE CLOSINGS ARE
CONTINGENT UPON
WEATHER CONDITIONS. If
work cannot begin as schedul
ed, it will be shifted to the next
clear day.
Uptown Charlotte
Pute On The
··*
I)og—Again!
The Seventh Annual àanta s
Puppy Sale will be hekt Dec
ember U-13 in uptown Char
lotte. Puppies from the City
Animal Shelter will be on sale
daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or
until ajl tig puppies are sold
the Puppy House will be
located between the NCNB
and Home Federal buildings
on South Try on Street.
Mayor Kenneth R. Harris is
scheduled to cut the ribbon to
the Puppy House and help sell
...The EASIEST WAY to pick
out the heet «I « COCKTAIL.
PARTY la to And the one who
to MEASURING the DRINKS.
mmmmr /m
ENGAGING BELINDA WELCH
...Park and Shop cashier
Belinda Weich
Is Beauty Of Week
by Sherleen McKoy
Post Staff Writer
Our beauty for this week is
21-year-old Belinda Welch.
She Is Studying at Central
Piedmont Community College
to become a probation officer.
A four-year course, Belinda
has already completed two
years. This past summer, she
had the opportunity to experi
ence situations she will
encounter in her future career
as a probation trainee at the
County Courthouse.
"It's an interesting job,"
Belinda said. Whenever a
defendant appeared before the
judge for an offense, Belinda's
job was to search the files for
their past records and present
the findings to the judge.
According to the contents and
volume of the defendant's rec
ord, he was either sentenced
at that particular time or
his sentencing was postponed
until a later date according to
NCD To Operate
Two Temporary
Bue Routes
For those who need medical
attention during the bus
strike, the Neighborhood Cen
ters Department will operate
two temporary bus routes
from the Vest Boulevard and
Greenville areas in Charlotte
U> major medical centers in
the City.
On Route I, West Boulevard,
buses will pick up passengers
in the Boulevard Homes,
Little Rock Apartments, Reid
Park. Dalton Village, South
side Homea, Brookhill Village
and Griertown
Route II, Greenville, will
have passenger pickup· at
Don: le Oaks, Dillehay Courts,
Try on Hills. North Charlotte,
and Earle Village.
Pasaengera from both of
these routes will be delivered
to the following area·: Inde
pendence Medical Plaza,
HeeHft uepwnww, Memor
ial Hospital, Department of
Social Service·, ' Mental
Health Center, Randolph Clin
ic and Medical Building, Pied
mont Eye Clihic, Presbyterian
Hospital, Providence Medical
Canter, Charlotte Eye, Ear
and Throat Hospital. Doctor's
Building, and the Metroview
Building.
The Mue and white Neigh
jorhood Center· buses will
>perate weekdays between
3:30 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. The
bus rides will be fr«e. Passen
gers will be picked up only at
CTS bus stop signs located
along the temporary routes.
For more information, contact
the Neighborhood Centers at
374-2S37
the nature of the crime com
mitted.
Belinda's co-workers during
her summer internship have
been a deciding factor as to
whether she should continue to
pursue her proposed career.
"They showed me the diffe
rent things involved with be
ing a probation officer," she
explained. "I learned how to
cooperate with people so that
when I do become a probation
officer, I will find it to be a
fulfilling career."
Belinda works as a cashier
at Park-n-Shop to help contri
bute to her academic finances
In her spare time she likes
to shoot pool, dance and parti
cipate in outdoor activities.
"I love meeting people,"
Belinda stated. "I like to judge
people by who they are instead
of what they are. I'm a happy
person and I get along with
everyone I meet."
Belinda recalls the day she
graduated from high school as
being the happiest day of her
life. Another secret thought
she harbors is to take a trip
around the world.
"Id go to Paris first, she
reflects, "and I'd like to end
up in the Bahamas " Why the
Bahamas? "To get some sun
shine and some pleasant re
membrances," she continued.
Belinda plans to spend her
Christmas holidays with her
family. "Christmas is a spec
ial time of the year because it
means togetherness," Belinda
said, "sharing Christmas with
family and exchanging gifts
with each other " >
A Charlottean, Belinda is A
1976 graduate of South Meck
lenburg High School.
* The daughter of Mr and
Mrs. Cleveland Welch, she Is
the youngest of three brothers
and three sisters
Am Wake County
Environmental Impact Of
Pollution Concerns Blacks
Food Stamp
Allotment
To Increase
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Low
income families will receive a
cost-of-living increase in their
food stamp allotments start
ing Jan. 1. Assistant Secretary
of Agriculture Carol Tucker
Foreman announced recently.
The increase, prescribed by
law, reflects the rise in the
cost of food from March
through September of this
year. For a family of four, this
translates into a 5.2 percent
increase in their food stamps.
Between January and July
1979, states will be phasing in
new allotments and income
elegibility limits required by
the Food Stamp Act of 1977. As
a result, some states will be
issuing food stamps under
both old and new program
rules while this transition is
taking place
Under the program rules
being phased out, a family of
four with no net income will
have their allotment increas
ed on Jan. 1 from the present
$182 to$192. The maximum net
monthly income a family ..
of four may have and still be
eligible for food stamps will
increase from $607 to $640
Under new program rules, a
family of four with no net
income will receive a $191 food
stamp allotment. The net
monthly income limit for a
four-person food stamp family
will be $542, or about $6,500 per
year This is nearly $1,200 a
year lower than the net in
come limits under the old
program rules that are being
phased out
Election Board
To Meet Thursday
•
The Mecklenburg County
Board of Elections will hold an
open meeting on Thursday,
Dec. 7 at 4:00 p.m. in the
Election Office at 710 E.
Fourth Street
Topics of discussion will
include the results of the
"Voting Place Straw Vote."
Votera in certain
districts may comment on
whether they prefer the
Newell School or Back Creek
ΛΚΡ Church, and Derita
. School or Mallard Creek Pres
byterian Chu-ch as voting
locations.
Sheriff
Spiritual singers Thomas Moore, Verna
McCravy and Jerry Springs sing a refrain of
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" at the Afro-Am
erican Culture Center In the background is
DonâId~5rêen's tapêstry, "Salaam"" AudiF
ions for the new All City Spiritual Singers will
be Sat.. Dec 16. ι photo by Eileen Hanson)
Charlotte Will Soon Have
Its Own Spiritual Choir
by Eileen Hanson '
Special To The Post
Charlotte will soon have its
own spiritual choir. Auditions
for the All City Spiritual Sin
gers will be held Sat , Dec. R>7
at 3 ρ m at Spirit Square. 110
E. 7th Street.
Verna McCravy and Jerry
Springs are coordinating the
project for the Afro-American
Culture Center. They hope to
recruit 100 voices-youth, sen-·
ior citizens, men, women,
blacks and whites-people of
all different backgrounds.
Anyone who enjoys singing is
welcome.
f "The old spirituals that
played a vital part in Negro
culture are becoming
extinct," said Springs, a mem
ber of the Afro-Center board
VWe- want to rejuvenate the
spirituals because they have a
great depth of meaning for
people today."
Musician Thomas Moore
will serve as a guide and
resource for the group
"Everyone can sing spirit
uals," Moore emphasized
Based on simple texts,
musical line and repetitions,
spirituals are a popular art
form for all ages and nationa
lities They are easy to sing
and require no fancy instru
ments-just the voices we al
ready have.
Potential singers should not
be scared off by the auditions.
The choir will be a diversified
group-not a group of profess
ionals.
"Everyone has the talent to
sing if they want to sing,"
affirmed Moore. "No one
should be intimidated. We will
be sharing music, not per
forming it Everyone can get
involved."
The choir will present at
least two major concerts a
year. Smaller groupings will
sing at schools, prisons,
churches, public functions,
senior citizens homes-any
where they can share music
with others.
Spirituals bridge the gaps
between people," said Moore.
"They tell the oral history of
the Negro people, recounting
stories, nuturing values of
respect and love, recalling the
struggles of the past and the
hopes of the future "
McCravy is a local song
writer and poet Her works
include comtemporary music
and some modem-day spirit
uals. Although the choir will
focus primarily on the old
Negro spirituals, she empha
sized that contemporary mus
-ic wili.be sung as well. _ _
Moore is a native of Gaston
ia and a graduate of Manhattan
lN.Y.) School of Music. He is
well-known in the Charlotte
area for hts sing-ins, which
lake place in senior citizens
homes, public housing,
schools, community centers
and churches He has a special
way of drawing his audience
into the music, making them
participants by singing and
clapping out rhythms.
Moore is an accomplished
pianist, baritone and jazz
musician, but spirituals are
his special love.
"The spirit is what makes
u> brothers and sisters," said
Moore "That is the heart of
spirituals."
For more information about
the All City Spiritual Singers,
call The Afro-Center, 37*1565,
8 30-4:30 weekdays
City Has 25,000 Battered Women? ,
The practice of witc healing
is not unique to the Dark Ages
National studies reveal that 50
percent of all married women
are beaten bv their husbands
The City of Charlotte has
25.000 battered women Yet.
no shelter or refuge exists for
these women and their child
ren.
Klla Spencer is an example
of one of the battered wives in
the Charlotte community
After being a victim of beat
ings for seven years, she shot
her husband in self-defense
during an attack and now
faces a prison sentence
A fund raising rally for the
defense of Klla Spencer and
the establishment of an emer
gency fund for battered
women will be held on Satur
day, Dec 16 from H 00a m to
4 00 ρ m in the Charlottetown
Mall The public is invited to
attend the activities which will
include speakers and a film at
2 00 ρ m entitled. "Battered
Women Violence Behind
Closed Doors " The fundrais
ing rally will be held in the
rvin.MiMiiity Room on the Sec
ond floor of the shopping
center, and is being sponsored
by the Committee for the
defense ' ι Klla Spencer.
John Baker Takes Public Office
by Susan Ellsworth
Post Staff Writer
John Baker holds the dist
inction of being the first black
man ever elected as Sheriff in
North Carolina. He was inau
gurated on Monday, Dec. 4 as
the Sheriff of Wake County.,
"Law enforcement is s trad
ition in my family," Baker
commented, "and 1 want to
continue it"
Baker's father became the
first black police officer in the
Raleigh Police Department 96
years ago; he Is currently a
Master Patrolman.
Born and raieed in Wake
County, John Baker shared his
father's interest in police
work., .·"
Investing his talents in law
enforcement training. Baker
became involved as a Youth
Devetoptiïèfg Consultant for
the Raleigh Police Depart
ment, and a member of the
North Carolina Board of Par
ole* between seasons when he
waa a professional football
player.
Baker was the first black
man drafted into the NFL
from a predominately black
- college-North Carolina Cen
tral University.
Beginning his professional
football career in 195β, Baker
played for the Los Angeles
Rams four years, followed by
a seven year term for the
Pittsburg Steelers. Aa Defen
sive Captain for the Steelers,
he was honored as their moat
valuable plaver
·ί»"Τ
John Baker
...Follows tradition
After it year· in the football
arena. Baker retired Most
recently he served as an aide
to Senator Robert Morgan He
resigned that position to seek
the office of Sheriff
"My goal is to provide the
best law enforcement service
for all citizens, seven days a
week. 24 hours a day,"
explained Baker
As an active member of his
community. Baker has served
on the Board of Directors for
the Red Cross and the United
Kurd Me was recognized for
an honorary Doctorate of
Humane Letters from Shaw
University On four occasions,
he was lauded Dy the City
Council and General
Assembly for his contributions
to man*·*"*
Baker is married and has a
teenage son and daughter.
Wyche:Urhan
Environment
Critical Area
by Susan Ellsworth
Post Staff Writer
Awakening minorities to the
environmental impact of poll
ution was focus of a confer
ence held. Dec. 1-2 in Atianta,
Georgia, sponsored by the
National Newspaper Publish
ers Association under a grant
from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
Pollution and its link with
unemployment, poor educat
ional opportunities, and in
adequate recreational facilit
ies interacting to create a
deteriorating environment
was discussed among the part
icipants at the regional confer
ence.
In his remarks to those
attending"* Πΐ e~ ~c ο riTerêncë,~
Paul Wyche Jr., Coordinator,
of the Constituent Develop
ment Unit of EPA National
Headquarters called the urb
an environment a critical
area
"Pollution hasn't been view
ed as an issue or matter of
survival in the black commun
ity," Wyche explained
"We are asmng that you
make the EPA more account
able to the black community,"
he added
An address on "Jobs and the
Environment!" _del:vered_by
Paul Cobb, Director of the
Oakland Citizens Committee
for Urban Renewal, was con
cerned with how to interest
blacks in the problems caused
by pollution that affect life
"Pollution has been a closed
issue for blacks. ' ' according to
black environmentalist Cobb.
"We must relate more to the
blacks in the Federal agenc
•es, to strengthen their hands
and deliver services to the
minority community
"One way to wake up the
minority community to the
whole issue of environment, is
to not talk about it in while
middle-class environmental
concepts, but approach it from
a different perspective in
terms of jobe. money and
survival -things we can under
stand," Cobb continued
The three sessions that foll
owed, involved discussions on
"Air and Noise Problems,"
"Health Effects of Pollution,"
and "Water and Solid Waste
Problems "
Environmental Protection
Agency Deputy Administrator
Barbara Blum recently
announced new initiative* to
aid Minority Business Enter
prise (MBE) participation in
EPA grant-assisted projects.
The initiative· wilJ increase
the role of minority businesses
in these projects, according to
Ms. Blum.
■ The Development of an
effective MBE program
should greatly reduce serious
problems encountered by
minority businesses in their
efforts to participate in work
under EPA (rant-assisted pro
jects. such aa the multi-billion
dollar sewage construction
grants program, " the
explained
All Federal EPA grants
have programs included for
the use of Minority businesses
Eight percent of the grants
have been appropriated for
theae businesses, according to
Carolyn Russell Director of
the office of Civil rights and
Urban Affairs.